Chapter 6: It's a Date

A/n: Rest in peace, David Bowie and Alan Rickman. I'm at a loss of words to say, but you'll be dearly missed, two big childhood icons for me.

The couple were still in their heavy trance until Adam felt the light fluttering touches of Belle's fingers on his cheek. His whiskey eye searched her blue ones. "Why am I here belle?" He asked softly, finally letting himself break the silence between them, staring into her eyes as he slowly brought her back to her feet. "Honestly." She was silent for a few moments, for a second her shell seemed to falter. "Did you mean any of it? Anything that you said that night?" That was all she wanted to know. Did he really think all those things about her? Was she that low? In response, his eyes drifted away from hers and onto the floor as stepped away from the embrace as if her touch was beginning to burn him, his voice low. "Maybe it's best we talk about this somewhere… more private."

Her brows arched in suspicion.

And with that his widened, a slight heat rising to his face. Finally not somewhere else..."Oh gods, no, not that way dear! I just don't want to infringe on the wedding if we start arguing..." He chuckled nervously while she nodded in agreement. "Meet me next weekend. We'll go up to my flat, if that sounds alright to brows raised again. Oh gods did he sound that much like a lecher? "No fishy business, I promise." He began leading her slowly back their table, his hand resting on the small of her back, leaving them both mourning the closeness they had in their embrace.

Belle now had a frown upon her features. Her lower lip protruding out slightly in a pout.

" I did want to know tonight." She cooed.

"And I love to keep my lady waiting." And if he was being fully honest, his flat was not not in pristine condition.

"You sadistic man." She said in an accusing tone, narrowing her eyes at him as she took her seat.

His head shook as another laugh rumbled through his body, he leaned over the table."Oh, you remembered that part about me?" It was then he bit his lip as he felt the slight sting of a hand making contact with his shoulder, but refused to fully acknowledge it as he sat down as well. While it was scolding, he knew it was a playful gesture. He watched her tip her head back laughing. "HA!" From then on they finished their meal, making small talk and arguing over the bill for way longer than they should. It was him refusing to let the matter drop until she agreed to let him pay for the meal, eventually her talking him into letting her at least pay the tip, and being the gentleman he was; (Though many would disagree, including him...At least at the moment?) offering her a ride home. When meeting the slight chill of the crisp New York air, she barely had to shiver for him to take his jacket off and wrap it around her shoulders, being granted with a thankful smile. They walked arm and arm down the street and around the block to the Manhattan Parking Garage where her eyes feasted on the site of the familiar black Cadillac Sedan. Her face contorting to expressions of awe, happiness, and amusement. "You still have this old thing?" Delicate hands stretched out to caress the hood of his car but stopped short as if afraid she would somehow damage the vehicle. The thing still looked brand new. "Of course. Did you expect something else, maybe a Mustang?" He mused.

Shrugging her shoulders, she thought about it, "I don't know. But I do think you'd look good in one, a 1966 Mustang, the '69 Boss, or maybe the Shelby '67?" She suggested.

"Hmph, maybe if I was still in my twenties, or going through a midlife crisis." Though he'd have to admit, they were good looking cars.

"As old as this thing is," She stepped closer to him with a slight sway to her hips, stopping in front of him, studying him almost. "I couldn't really picture you in anything else, not a Mustang, or Charger… no, this suits you perfectly, absolutely classic. Don't you dare get rid of it! Not even if the only piece left is the steering wheel and you have to pretend there is still a car attached to it!" She demanded, a sly look in her eyes as he stared at the tip on her index finger that was pointed right at him. He straightened his posture, tightened his lips, and with a fancy flourish of his hand, gave her a salute. "Yes mam." Seeing her shake her head and a giggle come from her, broke his straight face, his lips curving upward in amusement of her liking his joke.

It had only been a ten minute drive, maybe fifteen with the current traffic, when the Cadillac had pulled up in front of the apartment buildings on Barrow street and her telling him to stop once they reached her's on the corner, he studied the brick building. The red coloring was being lit by the glow of the street lights. The place already gave an aura that it perfectly suited Belle. It was tiny compared to the building that he, himself lived in, but that was Belle for you; modest as ever. The place was rather adorable too. Tiny, modest, and adorable. It was then he realized how close she actually was to his office. "So this is actually why you visit me so often, Aye?

"Och aye." She replied cheekily, trying her best and adorably flopping at a Scottish accent.

"Aye, lass! Yer talkin' pish. Go home yer drunk!" He growled out, letting his Scottish accent roll through. She always did love that accent. The two just laughed, being lefts in panting messes in the car as they tried to calm down and remember how to breathe. His voice was still heavy but he managed the words. She couldn't help but notice how soft his eyes were. "Let me walk you in? Have to make sure there's no danger around the corner." With a slow nod of her head she allowed him to walk her to the door.

Before he let her go inside, he placed a delicate grasp on her wrist, barely enough to keep her there yet it somehow did. "Belle, wait." He slowly let go, letting his fingers brush against her pulse point as he moved pulled what seemed like a business card from his shirt pocket joined with a pen. The touch had sent a shiver throughout her body and she was begging he didn't notice. He took a firm grasp of the card and scribbled something down, shaking the card in his left hand to dry the ink faster and placed it in the palm of her hand, bottom down as if to hide the treasure from her sight. She looked questioningly at him. "In case you need it," He gave her cheek a soft kiss and walked down the steps. Turning before heading to the Cadillac to say, 'Thank you, Belle."

She stood there puzzled and confused for what seemed like forever after he drove off, still feeling the warmth of his lips on her right cheek as the air hit it. It had just reminded her that she was still wearing his jacket. She cursed under her breath and went up to her apartment. Once she was in the door, she closed in and leaned on it for support, flipping the card over to see, "ABG: 1-212-500-6584"

A sigh broke the absolute silence in her foyer. She wasn't supposed to allow this to happen, yet they had fallen back into things so easily. It felt like only yesterday they were sitting in the office where it was the occasional basis that he'd teach her some Scottish slang and they'd go back and forth with it, as long as she talk him Australian slang as well. It wasn't supposed to happen. But they were drunk, drunk off each other, both bound for a hangover. She didn't even know what kind of game she was trying to play with him- or maybe it was more like herself. Frustrated, she all but sank against the door and sat in a heap on the floor.

It was an hour later she decided to be brave.

It wasn't long after he got home that Adam heard his phone buzz. He was now laying in the middle of his bed, atop of the red satin sheets staring at the ceiling thinking about the evening's events; letting himself slowly drift off to sleep. His shoes were thrown somewhere in the living room down stairs, his tie joining it on the floor near the stairs to his room, belt hung over the back of the black leather couch. His shirt was unbuttoned at least half way to expose his chest, and his phone lied on the end table by his bed with his wallet, clattering against the dark oak wood. He decided to read it before he fell into his trance.

'So you're not using the old fossil of a phone anymore? ;P'

He didn't have to ask to know who it was. It was a simple enough of a text, yet still his heart hammered against his chest. Pondering how to respond as he saw the bubble icon still moving. She was waiting for him to reply.

'Nope. No fossil. Although, I'm still caveman.'

'You beastly thing ;)'

He didn't know where this was leading to and he didn't know how else to respond.

'An absolute monster.

So. Next Sunday, 8? I'll pick you up?'

'Sounds good :)'

'Great. It's a date.'

A/N: Mostly a thursday evening and Friday morning drabble since I couldn't sleep. I really like this chapter though.

Much love ,

PW0 xx